Amalgamator.



E. B. BENNETT. AMALGAMATOR.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 21. I9I4.

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Patented Sept.v 19, 1916.

` struction,

ERASTUS B. BENNETT, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

AMALGAMA'IOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

Application led January 21, 1914. Serial No. 813,386.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ERAs'rUs B. BENNETT, citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amalgamators; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in amalgamators, being more especially intended for treating placer material carrying free gold and other precious metal values. It may, however, be employed in other relations, as where the gold or other values are set free by pulverizing quartz or other ore in solid form.

In my improved construction I employ liquid mercury in which the amalgamating element is partially submerged, the said element being adapted to be actuated to recoat the exposed surface with mercury as often as may be desired. The amalgamating element may consist of a single member or a plurality of members as may be desired.

An important feature of my improved construction consists of a vertically movable gate arranged above the amalgamating element and in close proximity thereto, the said gate being vertically adjustable to regulate the space or channel between theA element and the lower surface of the gate, which is so shaped as to maintain the channel approximately uniform in depth.

Having briefly outlined my improved con- I will proceed to` describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which is illustra-ted an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing: Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 1.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral designate a tank carrying a quantity 6 of liquid mercury. This tank has two projections 7 and S at its opposite extremities. At the outer ends of these projections flanges 9 and 10 project upwardly. Plates 12 and 13 are applied to the structure by means of suitable fastening devices 14 and 15 to form pockets 16 and 17 approximately triangular in cross section. These pockets have relatively narrow outlets 18 and 19 for water introduced by way of pipes 20 and 21. (See Fig. 2.) The water thus introduced into these pockets prevents the accumulation of material above the mercury at the opposite ends of the tank and serves to keep the sand loose and allows the amalgam to settle into the body of the mercury. This water also prevents the sand from packing against the amalgamating element 57, which element is arranged to form an inlet 29 at the forward extremity of the tank and an exit opening 30 at the rear or discharge end thereof, the opening 30 communicating with the passage 31 which is inclined upwardly from the upper surface of the body of mercury. (See Fig. 1.)

The inner opening 29 communicates with a hopper-like receptacle 32, which is composed of side and end walls 33 and 34 extending upwardly from the body of the tank or the lower portion containing the body of liquid mercury. This receptacle has also a wall 35 which is secured to a gate 67, as shown at 36. With this plate 36 is connected a depending plate 37 by means of a set bolt 38, to which is applied a wing nut 39, the bolt passing through an opening formed in the part 35 and a slot 40 formed in the plate 37.

The plate 37 is connected with a part 41 forming a channel, the said part being hinged as shown at 42 to the upper extremity of an inclined trough 43, whose lower portion may rest upon the gate member 67, as shown at 44. The lower portion, however, of this trough is provided with laterally extending parts which enter grooves 76 formed in the opposite side walls of the tank structure, whereby the trough is capable of vertical adjustment.

Connected with the central portion of the gate which is equipped with a bracket 4 for the purpose, is a stem 45. The lower extremity of this stem is reduced, as shown at 46, and is journaled in the bracket 4being secured in place by means of a pin or key 47, in such a manner as to allow the lower extremity of the stem to turn freely within the bracket. This stem passes through an opening 48 in the trough 43. The upper portion of the stem is threaded as shown at 49 in a nut 50 constituting la part of a cross bar 51 secured to the'upwardly extending side members 24 of the tank structure.

The channel member il is mounted in a slot formed in the plate 35 and is vertically adjustable to regulate the overflow from the receptacle 32. The side edges of this plate 35 engage grooves 78 formed in the sides of the tank structure. The object of this receptacle is to maintain a suitable pressure head and the height of this head is determined by the vertical position of the cha nel member 4l.

When the apparatus is in use the material to be. treated is introduced into the receptacle and the head or depth in said receptacle is constantly or uniformly maintained by reason of the fact that the water is fed into the hopper' or receptacle faster than it will be allowed to pass below the gate, and the surplus water will overflow1 through the channel lll.

lf it is desired to change the depth of the pressure head this may be accomplished by raising or lowering the channel member all. This adjustment will also change the vertical position of the overflow trough 43.

lV hen the apparatus is in use the material to be treated is introduced into the receptacle 52 in the form of relatively fine sand or similar amorphous material which contains the values to be saved and the necessary water is discharged into the receptacle to form a relatively thin pulp, whereby the latter is of such consistency that it will pass through the channel between the gate member and the upper surface of the rolls. The water is fed into the receptacle in such quantities as to maintain the pressure head as determined j by the position of the channel member 41.

The material to be treated flows through the passage 68 and during such travel the precious metal values are caught upon the mercury coated exposed surfaces of the rolls.

In order to keep the sand loose below the channel and in front and rear of the rolls in order to allow the amalgam to settle, water is introduced from the pipes Q0 and 2l into the pockets 1G and 17 and escapes through the relatirely narrow mouths or slots at the inner extremities of the pockets, in the directicn of the adjacent rolls and keeps the sand moving and prevents its packing against the rolls and thus allows the amalgam to readily settle into the mercury body.

The amalgamating element 57 is provided on opposite sides with pins 58 which enter recesses 59 formed in the side walls of the tank. These pins are engaged by spiral springs G0 yieldingly supporting the amalgamating element so that its upper portion shall extend above the liquid mercury for amalgamating purposes.

vl/'hen it is desired to further depress the amalgamating element within the mercury of the tank, or completely submerge the saine in order to recoat its exposed portion, a lever 61 is employed. This lever is fulcrumed as shown at G2 and is connected as shown at G3 with a U-shaped device 64- whose depending arms G5 are adapted to engage the element 57. The lever 6l is normally supported in a predetermined position by a spring 6G. The lever engages a stop pin 167. By depressing the lever the required distance, the amalgamating element 57, may, if desired, be completely submerged in the liquid mercury of the tank. Tn this case the gate will be designated by the numeral 67, and has its lower surface shaped to conform approximately to the contour of the adjacent surface of the amalgamating element forming a passage 68 between the said element and the gate 67. This gate is raised and lowered by means of a screw stem t5 in the same manner as in the other forni of construction.

ln the form of construction shown in Fig. 3, the material to be treated is introduced into the receptacle and the desired pressure head maintained in thev same manner as heretofore described when speaking of the other form of the device.

Vith reference to Fig. 3 of the drawing, it will be observed that the arms G5 of the U-shapcd device connected with the leverl, as aforesaid, enter perfor-ations formed in the gate G7, and normally are supported with the lever by the spring ('56, so that the said arms G5 are free from the amalgating element. lVhen, however, it is desired to depress said element to the dotted line position, for instance (see Fig. 3) for the purpose of completely submerging the said element in the mercury, temporarily for the purpose of recoating its exposed surface, the lever is depressed, causing the U-shaped device to assume the dotted line position which corresponds with the dotted line position ofY the amalgamating element in the mercury containing tank.

It is evident that the amalgamating ele ment may be of any desired form and that the device employedv in connection with the lever for depressing said element may vary according to the form or construction of the element to be actuated thereby.

Having hus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. An amalgamator comprising a tank containing a body of liquid mercury, an amalgamating element partially submerged therein, a gate vertically adjustable above the amalgamating element to maintain a passage of suitable depth between the gate and element for the material under treatment, the gate being equipped with a screw stem for purposes of adjustment, a forward receptacle in communication with said passage by a contracted opening, whereby a pressure head is maintained in said receptacle, the latter having a vertically adjustable overflow channel, an inclined trough in engagement with said channel and mounted above the mercury tank, the said trough having an opening through which the screw stem of the gate passes.

2. An amalgamator comprising a tank containing a body of mercury, an amalgamating element supported in the tank and partially submerged in said mercury, the said element being spring supported in the tank and normally partially submerged in said mercury, and means for imparting downward movement to the said element against the spring tension.

3. An amalgamator comprising a tank containing a body of mercury, an amalgamating element spring supported in the tank and normally partially submerged in -sa-id mercury and means for imparting downward movement to the said element against the tension of its supporting springs, said means, including a lever,.fulcrumed on the tank above the mercury and provided with a U-shaped member adapted to engage the amalgamating element as the lever is actuated.

4. An amalgamator comprising a tank containing a body of mercury, an amalgamating element spring supported in the tank and normally partially submerged in said mercury and means for imparting downward movement to the said element against the tension of its supporting springs, said means, including a lever, ulcrumed on the tank above the mercury and provided with a U-shaped member adapted to engage the amalgamating element as the lever is actuated, and a gate mounted above the amalgamating element and having a body member adjacent said element, the body member being adjustable with reference to the said element to form a passage of suitable depth for the material under treatment, the said body member or' the gate being perforated to receive the arms of the U-shaped device connected with the lever for depressing the amalgamating element, as aforesaid.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERASTUS B. BENNETT.

Witnesses:

A. J. OBRIEN, A. EBERT OBRIEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

